Separation of the elements of foliated or laminated masses



Jan. 11 1927.

. 0. LEGG SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS OF FOLIATED 0R LAMINATED MASS-ES Filed July 7, 1924 \RAHMW 5:11-..

' Patented Jan. l1, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,614,371 PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR LEGG, OF LONDON, ENGLAND. ASSIGNOR TO ABDULLA & COMPANY LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS 0F FOLIATED OR LAMINATED MASSES.

/App1ication filed July 7, 1924, Serial No, 724,732, and in Great Britain september 25, 1923.

This invention relates to the separation of the individual elements or foliations of a laminated or foliated mass such as a bundle or hand of tobacco leaves as usually 1? bundled for transport.

According to the invention separation of the leaves or laminae is effected mechanically either wholly or to an extent which renders their final separation a comparatively speedy process.

The separation is effected by bending the laminated mass a sufficient number of times in the same direction, that is curving the mass always towards the same side and straightening the mass between successive bendingoperations. This produces a creeping of the laminae upon'each other so that if, for example, the bundle is gripped along one edge and bent around a roller substantially parallel with the gripped edge and then gripped along or near the opposite edge and straightened out, the laminations will have separated by creeping to an extent depending upon the curvature of the bend in relation to the thickness of the mass. If now the process is repeated by again gripping the mass along or near the first-mentioned edge,lbending it in the same direction, gripping it along or near the opposite edge and straightening the mass, the degree of relative movement and therefore of separation of the laminae will have been increased.

This repeated bending can be efiected by passing the laminated mass successively over a series of rollers or by passing it repeatedly over the same roller, means being provided to shift the transverse line of gripping from the entering edge towards the rear edge at each bending operation, so that the separation and relative displacement of the individual leaves established by bending will be maintained when the bundle is straightened.

Preliminary loosening of the leaves of a bundle may be effected by a similar apparatus, in which the bundles or hands of leaves are flexed or bent successively in opposite directions, thereby causing the leaves to creep to and fro relative to each other and so reduce their adhesion.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, in which A is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus for effecting a preliminary loosening of the leaves of the bundle, and B and G represent a two-stage apparatus according to the present invention for effecting longitudlnal separation of the individual leaves, it being understood that this separating process may be carried further by additional elements of apparatus identical with B and guide rollers H, 1 respectively and taking the bundle with them cause the latter to be bent more or less sharply around a flexing roller J ,the leaves being gripped tightly at one point by this roller as they pass around it, and the bending of the bundlecauses .a

relative movement of theleaves upon each other, the leaves on the outer side of the bend being ,draggedforwards relatively to the leaves underneath or on the inner side. The leaves will thus be separated by a relative longitudinal creeping movement to an extent depending upon the curvature of the bend in relation to the thickness of the mass. WVhen the grip along the front edge of the bundle is released by this edge passing be yond the roller J into the straight portion of the belts H, I, the outer leaves of this released portion of the bundle are pushed forwards relatively to the inner leaves, so that when the whole bundle has passed around the roller J the relative longitudinal displacement of the leaves is maintained. The extent of this relative longitudinal displacement is increased by the passage of the bundle around the flexing roller J of the next element C of the apparatus which is identical in character with the element l3 and this process, can be repeated in successive elements until the individual leaves are completely separated longitudinally from each other.

To allow for the increasing elongation of the bundle, the aprons H, I of successive elements are driven at an increasing speed.

As shown in the drawing, the band H is gripped tightly on the surface of the driving roller K by means of a spring-urged roller L which presses against the roller K and is also positively geared therewith through gears L, K, and one or more of the guide rollers H may be spring-urged outwardly to keep the band H taut; the band I may be driven simply by friction through the bundle of leaves by the'band H or the driving roller K may be geared through a pair of idler gears M to a roller 'N which is thus positively driven from the driving roller K, and if necessary, the band I may be gripped to the roller N by means 01 spring-urged roller such as L. Also one or more of the guide rollers I may be springurged outwardly to maintain the band I taut.

To enable the band I to be driven at an appropriate speed, the two idler gears M may, as shown in the drawing, be journalled upon a bracket 0 which can turn about the axis of the roller K and be secured as by means of a clamping stud P passing through a slot 0 in the bracket struck from the axis of the roller K. This enables a larger or smaller gear N to be fitted for driving the band I.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the specific mechanism herein described for successively flexing the bundle of tobacco leaves or the like in the same direction and that any equivalent means may be substituted for successively flexing the bundle so as to produce an increasing longitudinal relative displacement of the individual leaves, nor is the invention confined to the separation of the leaves of a bundle or hand of tobacco, but is applicable to bundles of sheets of paper or of metallic foil or other laminated or foliated bundles of like character.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the best means I know 01'. carrying the same into practical effect, I claim 1. The method of separating the individual leaves of a bundle of tobacco leaves, which consists in subjecting the bundle to multiple successive flexing and straightening operations, the successive flexures being always in the same direct-ion.

2. Apparatus for separating the individual leaves of a bundle of tobacco leaves, comprising a plurality of elements each consisting of a pair of flexible aprons or bands and a roller around which the said aprons pass to form a somewhat acute bend, the said bend being in the same direction in successive elements.

Apparatus for separating the individ ual leaves of a bundle of tobacco leaves, comprising a plurality of elements each consisting of a pair of flexible aprons or bands. a roller around which the said aprons pass to form a somewhat acute bend, rollers for driving the aprons, a bracket rotatable about the axis of one of the said rollers, idler gears journalled in said bracket and geared with one of the said rollers, and means for clamping the bracket in different angular positions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

OSCAR LEGG. 

